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The differences between opticians and optician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optician has an average salary of $38,412, which is higher than the $37,698 average annual salary of an optician apprentice.
The top three skills for an optician include patients, customer service and basic math. The most important skills for an optician apprentice are POS, customer service, and patients.
| Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $38,412 | $37,698 |
| Hourly rate | $18.47 | $18.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 10,174 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An optician is a medical expert specializing in people's various visual conditions. Opticians analyze eye examinations and the grade of patients' vision from the optometrist or ophthalmologists' prescriptions and design appropriate lenses to improve their sight. One of the most crucial responsibilities of an optician is to ensure that the patient is comfortable with the customized lenses. Otherwise, the optician must perform adjustments as needed. Opticians also recommend styles to the patient and provide instructions on how to properly clean and maintain the eyewear.
An optician apprentice is an assistant to a certified optician whose responsibilities include designing, measuring, and fitting lenses and frames for clients. Optician apprentices assist clients with picking out frames of their choice and within their budgets, measuring customer size for fitting, and ensuring a good face- eyeglass match. You will also assist and educate patients on how to wear and care for contact lenses and prepare work orders for the frame and lens mounting in the lab.
Opticians and optician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $38,412 | $37,698 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Horizon Laser Vision | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an optician and an optician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between opticians' and optician apprentices' demographics:
| Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.2% Female, 77.8% | Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |